Elements of Mid-Century Modern Design
No one can really pin down why mid-century design has stayed popular for so many years. Is it the clean lines that are a staple of the look or the use of contrasting materials that make people want to decorate their home this way? Whatever the reason, it’s safe to say the mid-century modern style isn’t going away anytime soon. This article will discuss the different elements of mid-century modern design so that you can decide if it’s the look for you.
Origins
Before we begin talking about what comprises mid-century modern design, we should explain where it comes from first. After World War II, there was a big push toward urbanization, and people fled to cities in droves. The industrial look of cities, i.e. the railroads and harsh metals, inspired the mid-century modern design. To this day, people still request this look for their houses.
Now that you know the origins of the look, we can begin our discussion of the elements of mid-century modern design.
Materials Mixture
One of the key characteristics of mid-century modern design is the mixture of materials. Harsh metals often blend with lighter wood—it’s all about blending the traditional with the nontraditional. For example, designers can experiment with different fabrics and textiles such as printed grass cloth wallpaper, which is made from materials such as hemp and sisal. The print blends tradition with modernism, which is what the style is all about.
Functionality
Mid-century modern design is all about functionality. In a mid-century modern home, everything is organized, and the lines are clean. Designers going for this look may look into storage options for their clients that can be neatly tucked away. Again, functionality comes into play with the example of printed grass cloth wallpaper. The fabric is incredibly thick, so it’ll absorb any noise and wear and tear that might get thrown its way. Families with rambunctious children can still go for this look in their home if they use the right materials.
Furniture
Selecting furniture for a mid-century modern home is one of the most challenging parts of achieving the design. Modernism is all about clean lines. For this reason, you shouldn’t buy a sectional with no defined shape when you’re trying to go for this look. Instead, choose furniture with interesting grooves and sharp angles. You should be able to smoothly trace your hand over every piece of furniture in a mid-century modern home.
The same is true when you’re choosing light fixtures. Lovers of the mid-century modern style aren’t afraid to be bold. You can definitely get a fabulous chandelier that catches people’s eyes when they walk into the room. However, it should be sleek and nothing too ornamental—it shouldn’t detract from the rest of the house’s aesthetic.
A final note on furniture is to keep things minimalistic. Again, you want clean lines. So, a huge sofa wouldn’t be very fitting for the theme. Don’t overcrowd the space—instead, buy furniture that’s comfy yet chic so that your home feels like the mid-century modern place of your dreams.
Color
Now, you may be thinking that with all these harsh materials and different textures, there would be no color in mid-century modern design. Well, you’d be sadly mistaken. Mid-century modern designers don’t shy away from color. In fact, they embrace it. Designers want to see contrast in a mid-century modern space.
This is another reason why grass cloth wallpaper is perfect for this look. Decorator’s Best has plenty of printed grass cloth wallpapers that’ll add texture and color to a space. This wallpaper will create dimension in a room that shouldn’t have that much furniture in it anyway. Plus, you can place it on a wall as an accent piece and leave the other walls bare for contrast.
Shapes
Since the mid-century modern style is all about lines, then shape must play an important part of the process. This sentiment is, in fact, true! Geometric shapes are staples of the mid-century modern design because of their clean linework. You can add shapes through artwork on the walls and in your coffee table selection.
Bring the Outdoors In
Greenery may seem a bit too basic to be a staple of the mid-century modern design, but it is. Designers add plants to these spaces all the time to create more texture and dimension. Think about it: interior designers need something made from a different material that’ll stand out in the room, and plants are the perfect solutions. You can go for simple greens, or you could get colorful flowers if you want to spice things up. Plants are where you add the extra pop that your minimalistic space may be missing.
The mid-century modern design doesn’t seem to be losing any popularity anytime soon. In fact, every time you turn on one of those house-buying shows, someone is asking for this style. The aesthetic has persevered over the years because it values functionality, which appeals to a lot of people. Also, the design is clean, so people can trace the lines of a room. For these reasons, individuals still want this style in their homes today.
If people aren’t buying homes in this style, they’re adding in elements themselves. For example, black window frames have become especially popular because people can mix the dark look with something lighter—a blend of industrial and traditional, mid-century modern to the core.
If you’re one of those people reading this and screaming, “This is what I want!”, then visit Decorator’s Best right away. Our grass cloth wallpaper matches what you might see in houses during the early days of this design trend. We know exactly how to nail down the mid-century modern look, and we want to help you do it. We’ll assist you in creating an accent wall that people won’t stop talking about for ages. Moreover, our grass cloth wallpaper is usually 100% recyclable, so you can be eco-friendly and look chic while doing so. Our team knows better than anyone why the style has remained popular for so long; let us do what we do best and find you the wallpaper you’ve been searching for.
